The Reverend William Conwell Spong

Uncovering for Others the Hidden Mystery of the Sacred

Priest, teacher, counselor and cultural prophet, the Rev. Dr. Will Spong died in his sleep of probable heart failure at his home in Austin, Texas, on February 4, 2004, at the age of 70.

A member of the faculty of the Episcopal Seminary of the Southwest since 1972, Will was professor-emeritus of pastoral theology at the time of his death. He had retired from full-time teaching in 2001 but continued to teach part-time at the seminary. Services will be held Saturday, Feb. 7, at 11 a.m. in the Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd in West Austin.

Will came to the seminary after four years as a mission priest in North Carolina during the emerging Civil Rights movement and ten years as chaplain supervisor of the Duke Medical Center.

A consummate teacher, he drew theological connections from the world of the creative arts, lacing his teaching from musical theater, drama, print journalism and the cinema. Imploring students never to separate the sacred from the secular and to claim the birthright of their ministries in the complex moments of humanity, Will taught the arts and crafts of ministry through a deep respect for each human being.

During his years at the Seminary of the Southwest he established the only seminary-based clinical pastoral education program in the Episcopal Church. He crafted the seminary's innovative master of arts in pastoral ministry degree program in the mid-1990s. It enables working lay people to attend evening and weekend classes and focus on discipleship, spiritual formation or counseling - linking what they learn in the classroom with their workplace life.

Spong was interim vicar several times at St. James' Episcopal Church, a racially diverse church in Austin whose congregation he saw as truly representative of the kingdom of God.

Will regaled countless congregations (and even trade association banquets) with his skillful presentation of programs such as the theology of Rodgers and Hammerstein lyrics, New Orleans jazz and the story-songs of Harry Chapin -- accompanying himself on the piano as he spoke.

Will is survived by Nancy Whitworth, his spouse, and five adult children. Will earned the A.B. degree from the University of North Carolina; the M.Div. and D.D. degrees from Virginia Seminary; the M.Th. from Duke University; and the D.H.L. from the Seminary of the Southwest.

Memorial contributions may be made to the For the Love of Christi grief support program or the Seminary of the Southwest's William C. Spong endowment fund. The fund was established in honor of Will to help underwrite the seminary's master of arts in pastoral ministry degree program that he did much to create.

Links of interest

Sermon by Professor William Seth Adams on the one year anniversary of Will's death

Will's self-penned obituary

Homily by Professor Charles James Cook at Will's funeral service

Selections from Professor Cook's homily published in the Austin American-Statesman on February 12, 2004

Photos from Will's funeral

Reflection by Jack Spong about Brother Will

Article by Eileen Flynn, Austin American-Statesman religion writer, published on February 5, 2004

Letter to the Editor (1.24.07) by Bob Kinney, ETSS communications, on Will and Art Buchwald's farewell column

Will's Faculty Biography

Will Spong was the Pete Coffield Professor-emeritus of Pastoral Theology and Director of the Pastoral Education Center at the Seminary of the Southwest at the time of his death on February 4, 2004.

Professor Spong came to the seminary faculty in 1972 after four years as a mission priest in North Carolina and ten years as chaplain supervisor of the Duke University Medical Center.

As Professor-emeritus of Pastoral Theology, he drew theological connections from the world of the creative arts, lacing his teaching from musical theater, drama, print journalism and the cinema. Imploring students never to separate the sacred from the secular and to claim the birthright of their ministries in the complex moments of humanity, he taught the arts and crafts of ministry through a deep respect for each human being. Professor Spong was a Diplomate in the American Association of Pastoral Counselors, a Certified Supervisor with the Association for Clinical Pastoral Education, Inc., and licensed by Texas both as a Professional Counselor as well as a Marriage and Family Therapist. After retiring in 2001, he directed the Pastoral Education and Family Counseling Center in Austin.

He earned the A.B. degree from the University of North Carolina; the M.Div. and D.D. degrees from Virginia Seminary; the M.Th. from Duke University; and the D.H.L. degree from the Episcopal Theological Seminary of the Southwest.

Will's final CPE summer class 2003

Text of the citation that accompanied his honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree from the Seminary of the Southwest in May 2001 --

Priest, teacher, counselor and cultural prophet, you began ordained ministry in North Carolina, your native home in the midst of the emerging Civil Rights movement, a struggle which would change your life forever. Early on, as a young priest, you showed considerable skill in combining the need for change while encouraging a spirit of reconciliation among your flock. These attributes would continue to serve you well as you directed the clinical pastoral education program at Duke University and later on when you established the only certified seminary-based CPE program in the Episcopal Church. Hundreds of church leaders, lay and ordained, have benefited from your insightful supervision and pastoral wisdom.

As the founder of the Pastoral Education and Family Counseling Center, you provided not only pastoral support and guidance for faculty, staff and seminarians, but to the greater Austin community as well. As a consummate pastor, you are often called upon to offer support in the most difficult situations. Your creativity can be seen in the many projects you have helped to start, including the seminary's innovative Master of Arts in Pastoral Ministry program. Through these efforts, many have come to a deeper understanding of their own vocations in the service of God.

Your love of teaching and theological education beckon you beyond the campus, where, in a variety of settings, you proclaim the Gospel in music, drama, poetry and literature. From The Muppets on Broadway to the story-songs of Harry Chapin, you uncover for others the hidden mystery of the sacred. While physically limited in sight, you have the gift of seeing what others cannot see. As a result, we are all given a clearer vision of the Holy.

In recognition of your creativity, compassion, and prophetic witness, both within and outside the church, the Seminary of the Southwest is honored to confer upon you the degree of Doctor of Humane Letters, honoris causa.

photo by Nancy Whitworth

Will's sermon at Commencement 1998

Will's farewell sermon in Christ Chapel on May 10, 2001, as he retired from full-time teaching at the Seminary of the Southwest